Sunset over Prince of Wales and Thursday Islands taken from Horn Island. Photo Chloe Johnco.
As the northernmost Queenland Council, Torres Shire comprises all of the State lying north of latitude
11 degrees south, including part of Cape York Peninsula, together with many of the the islands of Torres Strait. It is also the only Australian Local Government that abuts an international border – Australia and Papua New Guinea. This alone places the people of the Shire in a unique part of the country, which is what initially attracted recently appointed CEO, Bernie McCarthy, to the region.
Growing up in rural Victoria, Bernie McCarthy has dedicated himself to the service of remote communities, working for nine Local Governments in Victoria, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
As the Director of Corporate Services for Torres Shire Council since 2004, Bernie is already a well known and active member of the Thursday Island community, where the Shire’s administration centre is located.
He said he is looking forward to working with the newly elected Councillors to ensure that the best services and facilities can be provided for the community.
“Torres Shire is a real leader in the provision of services within the region,” he said. “We have an excellent, well trained workforce and the provision of services we are able to provide here in this remote island location is equivalent to that of a larger regional centre. This often comes as a pleasant surprise to new residents.”
With a staff of around 80, and a budget of approximately $23 million in the 2007–2008 financial year, Bernie said an important challenge will be managing Council’s budget. It will be significantly reduced with the end of some major capital works, such as the current Horn Island sewerage project, the Horn Island Sports Complex and the expansion of the water capacity on Thursday Island.
“I believe that there should be a greater emphasis placed on seeking more external funding for community development and projects that Council wishes to pursue,” he said.
Bernie McCarthy said he would also like to see Torres Shire Council work together in a cooperative and beneficial
manner with the two newly
formed councils in the region – the Torres Strait Island
Regional Council and the Northern Peninsula Area
Regional Council.
Before being amalgamated in March this year, Torres Strait Island Regional Council comprised 15 small community councils, while the Northern Peninsula Area Council was made up of five island councils.
Bernie said he is passionate about the development of tourism in the Shire, with a great deal having been achieved over the past year through the work of the Torres Shire Tourism Steering Committee.
He said the strong leadership forged between the Torres Strait Regional Authority, the Torres Strait Northern Peninsula Area Consultative Committee, and local tourism operators and businesses was now delivering results.
“Qantas flies into the region twice daily from Cairns, so we have the opportunity to promote this unique part of the world to around 150 people per day,” he said. “We are now working effectively in a united front to develop the Torres Strait tourism industry and its quite exciting that a television promotion campaign will be commencing later this month.”
